All Blacks selectors ring the changes

BY DUNCAN JOHNSTONE

The All Blacks coaches were ruthless with their axing of Liam Messam but spoke with hope for their latest back row that now has Kieran Read playing out of position at No 8 to face the French in the second test.

Cleaned out by the French as a trio, the selectors have now cleaned out their own back row themselves.

One of the changes was forced with specialist openside Tanerau Latimer coming in for the injured Adam Thomson.

With a fit Jerome Kaino available there was no hesitation in handing him back his old blindside flanker's jersey and that meant a decision at No 8.

Read got the job easily over Messam.

In other changes to the starting XV, Conrad Smith comes back into the backline at the expense of Isaia Toeava and Keven Mealamu takes over at hooker for the injured Andrew Hore

New recruits Aled de Malmanche and George Whitelock are on the bench alongside Toeava.

There was no such luxury for Messam.

"Toeava and Messam didn't play as well as we hoped last week," said Henry.

"We didn't think Messam played as well as he normally could play. So it's a bit of a form thing. That's what selection is all about I guess."

Forwards coach Steve Hansen explained Messam's departure in more depth.

"Liam just has to get more consistent within the game. He's a real athlete and does some wonderful things and then he can do some silly things that are prone to error," said Hansen.

"That's something that he has to work on. He's been working on it for a while. He probably didn't have his best night in that department last week. You can't pick them all and unfortunately for Liam when you go to your bench you need somebody in the loose forwards who can play seven. So George Whitelock gets that job."

Hansen has to go back to the drawing board with another combination as the All Blacks really feel the heat of their missing leaders Richie McCaw and Rodney So'oialo.

"It's a challenge for all three of them as a new combo," said Hansen.

He backed Kaino's experience to be a big lift in that department.

"Kieran now has another test and he's an experienced player as a (red and black) captain. He and Jerome will drag Lats (Latimer) through. I was comfortable with Lats' 20 minutes last week.

"If we can give them a platform with the tight five then they will be able to operate."

A lot of it seemed to be spoken in hope as much as conviction.

Kaino has played virtually all of his season with the Blues at No 8, but Hansen was adamant that he was best suited to No 6, particularly with his defence off the scrum, something that was exposed by the French last week.

Hansen believed Read's future as a starting player in the All Blacks might have to be at No 8, backed up by his blindside play.

Henry also backed Read to step up: "He played quite a bit there for the Crusaders. We thought he played pretty well at six last week and on the form of last week's game he was probably our best loose forward. It was a matter of fitting Jerome in at six because that's where he plays most of his rugby.

The All Blacks are delighted to have Smith back, for his form, experience and his combination with Ma'a Nonu.

The team had a solid training session in wintry conditions in Wellington and Henry noted the hunger and enthusiasm that usually comes after a rare loss.

"That's what you would expect. It's good," he said.

The All Blacks had worked particularly hard at tackle ball situations in their training. Attention had also been given to the scrum where they were surprisingly inferior in Dunedin.

NEW ZEALAND: Mils Muliaina (captain), Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Joe Rokocoko, Stephen Donald, Jimmy Cowan, Kieran Read, Tanerau Latimer, Jerome Kaino, Isaac Ross, Brad Thorn, Neemia Tialata, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock. Reserves: Aled de Malmanche, John Afoa, Bryn Evans, George Whitelock, Piri Weepu, Luke McAlister, Isaia Toeava